Is it true that the disagreement of the imams is a mercy for the ummah, despite the fact that many people repeat this phrase?
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The questioner : Some people always repeat that the disagreement of the imams is a mercy for the ummah. Is this true, and is this phrase correct?
The Shaykh : This is not true. The consensus of the ummah is the good. However, those who disagree, if their disagreement is due to ijtihad (independent legal reasoning), they are shown mercy in not being held accountable for error. For the mujtahid (a scholar qualified to derive rulings) of this ummah, and praise be to Allah, if he is correct, he has two rewards, and if he errs, he has one reward, and his error is forgiven. Therefore, the ijma' (scholarly consensus) of this ummah is the proof; that is the mercy in reality. But it is not possible for people to agree on everything, because they differ in understanding, they differ in knowledge, and they differ in faith. In all these aspects, opinions must necessarily differ. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you. This questioner says.
The Shaykh : This is not true. The consensus of the ummah is the good. However, those who disagree, if their disagreement is due to ijtihad (independent legal reasoning), they are shown mercy in not being held accountable for error. For the mujtahid (a scholar qualified to derive rulings) of this ummah, and praise be to Allah, if he is correct, he has two rewards, and if he errs, he has one reward, and his error is forgiven. Therefore, the ijma' (scholarly consensus) of this ummah is the proof; that is the mercy in reality. But it is not possible for people to agree on everything, because they differ in understanding, they differ in knowledge, and they differ in faith. In all these aspects, opinions must necessarily differ. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you. This questioner says.